Presidential Disability

Who should determine when a United States president is unable to fulfill the office's responsibilities? What political and medical decisions are necessary? This book consists of the proceedings of a series of conferences held by the Working Group on Disability in US Presidents. The Working Group contains medical doctors, politicians, and former administration members, who examine the current implications of the 25th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This Amendment establishes the causes and methods for the removal (either temporary or permanently) of the President of the United States if he/she becomes incapacitated and what the chain-of-command is in the event of his/her removal. The Working Group received a great deal of national attention from these conferences, and its findings and policy recommendations were endorsed by former Presidents Carter and Ford. The implications of the Working Group's findings are currently being debated by the United States Congress. This book is especially pertinent with the recent 2000 Presidential election, as the health of the candidates, as well as their right to privacy, have become public issues.;James Toole, MD is professor of neurology at Wake Forest University; Robert Joynt, MD is professor of neurology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Part 2 Wake Forest University, November 10-12, 1995: participants; address, President Gerald S. Ford; introduction, James F. Toole; report on investigating advantages and disadvantages of formalized, standardized contingency plans in cases of disability, Francis I. Kitteridge; report on balancing public disclosure with patient confidentiality, Wayne King; report on the role of the spouse in determining disability and ensuring presidential health, Katy Harringer; report on strengthening the position of the physician to the president and White House medical staff, Howell Smith; discussion; draft summary for future consideration; letters from Daniel Ruge and Jonathan Rhoads.

Part 3 The White House, December 1-3, 1996: participants; committee reports; preparation of draft report and recommendations -discussion, consideration of principles, questions and answers; consideration of draft report and recommendations - discussion; adoption of principles and consideration of final draft of report and recommendations.